Area businessman reaches out to jumpstart Tiger Town

Andrew Ouart, a Columbia resident and his company, Game Day Entertainment, LLC, has formally offered to finance the currently shelved Tiger Town project, according to City documents.

Tiger Town is a downtown festival that was planned to be held before MU's home football games on Sept. 8 against Georgia and Oct. 13 against Alabama, but the project was cancelled due to lack of funding in August.

In an email to Columbia City Manager Mike Mathes, Ouart expressed his interest in implementing the festival, and requested a meeting with Mayor Bob McDavid and Columbia Chief of Police Ken Burton in order to hold the event before Saturday's home game. The topic has been placed on the City Council agenda for Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Ouart said in the email that the cost of holding a Tiger Town festival would be of "minimal to no cost for the city" and all of the expense would be funded by Game Day Entertainment, LLC. The event is estimated to cost over $50,000 a week and over $300,000 for the season.